Tarik Skubal’s role in the World Baseball Classic has been reduced to a Stan Lee-style cameo.
The reigning back-to-back AL Cy Young winner is expected to throw “about 55 pitches” against Great Britain in his lone start for Team USA on Saturday in the highly anticipated international baseball tournament, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
The curiously low pitch limit surfaces a week after Skubal — originally anticipated to form a vicious one-two punch alongside NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes — revealed that he intends to make just one start before rejoining the Tigers during spring training.
“I’m trying to do both things, trying to pitch for Team USA but I understand the need to be here with these guys and get ready for the season,” Skubal told The Athletic on Feb. 23.
“I think it’s kind of the best of both worlds in that aspect,” he added, “and I’m grateful they took me in that capacity.”
The flame-throwing southpaw — who posted a 2.30 ERA with 469 strikeouts in 387 2/3 innings over the last two seasons — emphasized that he would “lobby” to rejoin the team as a spectator if they reach the championship game.
Skubal said in February that he “bought in” on joining the national team after extended conversations with super-agent Scott Boras, Tigers manager AJ Hinch and Skenes.
He explained that it’s “great for the game of baseball” and that he took “a ton of pride” in representing the Stars and Stripes for the first time.
But Skubal’s decision to pump the brakes comes just weeks after earning a record-breaking $32 million salary for 2026 following a heated arbitration process with the Tigers.
Skubal — set to hit the free market at season’s end — was originally mired in trade speculation in November, when The Post’s Jon Heyman reported a jarring $250 million gap in extension talks between Skubal and the Tigers.
But following his brief appearance with Team USA, he’s set to reprise his starring role with the Tigers — his health being paramount to the franchise’s playoff aspirations following an exit in the ALDS.
Detroit bolstered its rotation for 2026 by signing All-Star lefty Framber Valdez and reuniting with franchise legend Justin Verlander.